[beerninja] wanted a USB switch that was controllable by IR remote, the existing hotkey functionality on USB switches that are currently available could not be used.

My plan is to add a microcontroller, and a Forebrain dev board, into the body of the USB switch to read IR inputs and control the switch via the button inputs. This should be a relatively straightforward project.

The Forebrain dev board is a small but powerful dev board, and certainly far overpowered for this project (it is a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller clocked at 72MHz), but its small size is essential in fitting it inside the switch. Also because we manufacture the things (http://www.universalair.co.uk), there wasn't an issue of cost or delivery times!

I received the USB switch today, so I've wired up the microcontroller and tested that everything works, and I'm now just waiting for the IR module, a Vishay TSOP34138 to arrive from Farnell.

When done, Forebrain fits perfectly into the space in the case, with holes drilled out for the IR receiver and Forebrain's USB port (for any future reprogramming).

I hooked up the IR receiver and wrote some code to decode the IR signal

I'm using a UK Sky remote since these are pretty common, and so [beerninja] should be able to easily find the codes for his universal remote. Buttons 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the remote are mapped to the USB switch.

The final result fits everything into the original case, with the only exterior indication of a modification is the hole for the IR receiver.